Summer learning is key for children to retain knowledge

Math often ignored by students during summer, experts say

For many children, summer is the fun season. Camps, pool time and being outside with friends are what summer is all about. But for millions of children, it can also be a vacation from learning, especially math. But educators said there are ways to help children retain knowledge without making them give up their summer fun. Teacher Erika Herman knows this all too well. She works with her 8-year-old daughter, Grace, to make sure she retains as much knowledge as possible from one school year to the next.

Camps, pool time and being outside with friends are what summer is all about. But for millions of children, it can also be a vacation from learning, especially math.

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But educators said there are ways to help children retain knowledge without making them give up their summer fun.

Teacher Erika Herman knows this all too well. She works with her 8-year-old daughter, Grace, to make sure she retains as much knowledge as possible from one school year to the next.

"I think it's important to have them do a little bit of something, just so we can review skills that they learned that year,” Herman said. “During the summer, they tend to lose a lot. You can tell who has worked and who has not."

Research shows that children from all backgrounds struggle with math. They do not usually use the skills, and the reason is that parents don't think of math outside of the classroom.

“You really have to make the effort to point out the math that does exist around us or create opportunities at home,” Sarah Pitcock, CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, said.

Herman said she makes math fun through songs, and she finds other ways to introduce the subject.

"Before you give them lunch, make them count out some money and say, 'You can't eat before you give me 65 cents,'” Herman said.

Grace also uses her textbook from the previous school year. Her mother's goal is not only to tackle new subjects, but keep what she has already learned fresh in her mind.

MExperts say making summer education fun is what experts is a great solution for student learning.